Stop stressing twice by understanding how worrying before an event robs you of peace and learning to trust God instead.
Worry and stress often feel like inherent parts of the human condition. Indeed, it’s easy to get caught up in a loop of anxiety about the future, trying to anticipate what might happen and preparing for the worst. Whether it’s a dreaded conversation, a tough decision, or a circumstance we feel powerless to change, the more we dwell on it, the heavier it becomes—even though it hasn’t happened yet. This is exactly why we need to stop stressing twice before the moment arrives.
Furthermore, we often experience difficult situations not just once, but twice—first in our minds as we imagine all possible outcomes, and then again when the actual event unfolds. But what if the outcome isn’t as bad as we expected? Worse yet, what if our worrying drains our energy and peace, leaving us with nothing to give when the moment arrives? By learning to stop stressing twice and trust God’s plan, we can shed these unnecessary burdens.
Moreover, God calls us to trust Him with the future and to live fully in the present, free from the weight of anxiety. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus reminds us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Ultimately, worrying doesn’t change the future; it only robs today of its peace.
In this post, we’ll explore why stressing about something before it happens is like putting yourself through it twice, and how we can release that stress by trusting in God’s perfect timing and plan.
Worrying Doesn’t Change the Outcome—It Steals Your Peace
Consider the last time you worried about something before it happened. Perhaps it was a job interview, a meeting, or a tough conversation with a loved one. How did it feel to replay the possible outcomes over and over in your mind? Did it help you prepare? Or did it just make you feel more anxious?
In Matthew 6:27, Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The answer is obvious—no. Worrying doesn’t change the future. Instead, it causes us to live in fear of what might happen, even if it never does. When we stress too much, we aren’t just anticipating the worst; we are already living in it emotionally, even though nothing has actually happened. This is why it’s so important to stop stressing twice before things even happen.
Let’s say you have an important event coming up that you’re nervous about. Days are spent thinking about it. You imagine different scenarios and prepare for every possible outcome. The fear, anxiety, and dread wash over you as if it’s happening in real time. When the event finally takes place, it either goes better than you expected or is difficult but manageable. Either way, you’ve experienced it twice: once in your mind and once in reality.
The Impact of Stress: Stop Stressing Twice
This is what stress does. It forces us to live in a future that hasn’t occurred, draining our energy and peace. Most of the time, what we fear isn’t as bad as we imagined. Living life with constant anticipation of the worst causes us to miss the joy and peace God offers us in the present moment. To break this cycle, we have to stop stressing and start trusting.
God never intended for us to carry this burden. In fact, Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This peace is available to us, but first, we have to learn to stop stressing twice and let go of the things we can’t control.
Trust God’s Timing and Plan
Recognizing that worrying doesn’t help is the first step. Next, we should shift our focus to God’s perfect timing and plan. By stopping stressing and putting our trust in Him, we open ourselves up to experiencing His peace.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are reminded to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Even when uncertainty looms, we can trust that God is working things out for our good.
Too often, we let ourselves become overwhelmed by “what-ifs.” We crave knowledge of every detail and wish to plan every outcome. However, God asks us to lay those desires down. When we can stop stressing and believe that He holds everything in His hands, we allow Him to give us strength and clarity.
Sometimes, trusting God means letting go of our need to control. Instead of stressing twice—once in our minds and once in reality—we can learn to live in the peace that comes from knowing that God’s timing is perfect.
Practical Tips to Stop Stressing Twice and Release it to God
Here are a few ways to help you stop stressing and give your worries to God:
1.Pray and Surrender:
Each day, bring your concerns to God in prayer. Tell Him what’s on your mind and ask Him to take the burden of worry from you. When we ask for God’s help, we allow Him to work in our lives. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things; it’s about trusting that God is handling what we’ve given to Him.
2.Daily Reflection and Gratitude:
Combat stress by focusing on what God has already done for you. Keep a journal of blessings and answered prayers. Reflect on how He has worked in the past. This habit will help you stop stressing and focus on gratitude instead.
3.Meditate on Scripture:
Spend time reading Bible verses that speak to your worry and stress. Verses like Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6-7, and Proverbs 3:5-6 remind us of God’s promises. Meditating on these truths reinforces the need to stop stressing and trust more.
Conclusion: Stop Stressing Twice and Embrace God’s Peace
Living through a situation twice—once in worry and once in reality—robs us of the peace God promises. Instead of stressing about what’s to come, we need to take it day by day, trusting that God is in control. He calls us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). When we stop stressing twice and start trusting, we can fully experience the grace He has crowned us with.
God invites us to let go of our worries. Whatever is on your heart today—whatever has been keeping you up at night—give it to God. When you stop living through the stress twice, you’ll find peace in knowing He is always in control.
Call to Action
What have you been stressing about lately? How can you release it to God today? Leave a comment below or share your story of how you’ve found peace by learning to stop stressing twice and trust in His plan. Let’s walk this journey together, learning to live fully in the peace that only God can give.
